School heads fault TSC over mass teacher transfers in Turkana
KESSHA accused TSC of transferring more than 47 teachers from various schools in Turkana County without ensuring continuity of learning for students.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) officials have criticised the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for transferring dozens of teachers from Turkana County to Baringo County without providing replacements, a move they say has crippled learning.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, KESSHA Secretary General Michael Ejikon accused TSC of transferring more than 47 teachers from various schools in Turkana County without ensuring continuity of learning for students.
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"This is a blatant denial of education to children from marginalised communities, which goes against the government's mandate," Ejikon said.
His concerns were echoed by the Kenya Union of Post Primary School Teachers (KUPPET) representative in Turkana, Areman Simon, who criticised TSC for undermining education in the region.
He pointed out that in some instances, entire teaching staff from certain schools had been moved without replacements, leaving students stranded.
Areman also revealed that some teachers had declined their transfer letters, but TSC allegedly forced them to move.
"You cannot transfer five teachers from one station; that is a disservice to the learners of Turkana County. Who will teach them once you transfer the five teachers?" Areman questioned.
"You cannot transfer a teacher who has not requested the transfer, and we have an example in a nearby high school where a teacher has been transferred despite declining the decision," he added.
This is not the first time education stakeholders have raised concerns over teacher shortages in secondary schools.
The issue persists despite the government's earlier promise to hire 20,000 additional teachers by January this year.
The shortage has led to overcrowded classrooms, overburdened teachers, and a lack of specialists in key subjects.
In October last year, TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia acknowledged the staffing crisis, revealing that despite having over 400,000 unemployed teachers in the country, the Commission still struggled to find qualified science teachers.
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